System for Interpreting Marseilles Minors

I have recently begun to work with historical tarot decks, more specifically the group called the Tarot of Marseilles. The Major Arcana and Court Cards are pictorial and therefore fairly easily read. The challenge comes from the Minor Arcana, which are not pictorially illustrated. The 2 of Cups only shows 2 cups on it although there are also some flowers and decorative elements. This makes it necessary for the reader to use their own system, which often involves combining numerological meanings with suit meanings. For example, the number 7 has a specific meaning, which becomes even more specific when the 7 is expressed in Batons/Fire. These meanings can then by modified by an intuitive reading of the decorative floral elements.

Below is the personal system I am working on for interpreting non-pictorially illustrated minor arcana. I must stress that this system is very much under construction. Meanings will be modified as my practice progresses. That being said, I nonetheless hope that you enjoy seeing my primary forays into this fascinating subject.

Number	Individual Card	Grouping	Related Major Pair
1	Impulse	Impulse	Le Bataleur La Force
2	Awareness		La Papesse Le Pendu
3	Understanding		L'Imperatrice XIII
4	Impulse Manifestation of Impulse	Awareness	L'Empereur La Temperance
5	Awareness		Le Pape Le Diable
6	Understanding		L'Amoureux La Maison Dieu
7	Impulse Manifestation of Awareness	Understanding	Le Chariot L'Estoille
8	Awareness		La Justice La Lune
9	Understanding		L'Hermite Le Soleil
10	Manifestation (of Understanding)	Manifestation	Le Roue De Fortune Le Jugement

DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Impulse: pure energy and will, does not yet recognize what it is or the existence of others
• Awareness: awareness of functioning in a larger universe, observation, instinctive impressions, passive and reflective in flavor, can involve refinement of the initial impulse due to recognition that one doesn’t operate in a vacuum
• Understanding: intelligence, combining awareness of your needs and those of others, knowledge of how the whole thing works

SUMMARIES

1. Raw element, urge, impulse
2. Learning, first contact with the other, limitation of options
3. Understanding, planning, proceeding, “getting it”
4. Solidity, acting accordingly in the world, feeling that there is something more
5. Recognition that the other is larger than you thought, making rules and philosophies, need to explain and give reasons
6. Evaluation of rules and processes, what does and does not work
7. Moving to a new level or ending it, decision-making, urge to use awareness to manipulate events to your purpose
8. Experimentation and observation, seeing one’s place in the universe and deciding how best to use it
9. Understanding how it all works and being able to show others, personal gnosis
10. Manifestation in the world, affects all parts of your life, seed of an entirely new impulse

Copyright K. Mayberry. Not to be used without permission.

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